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Best toddler tips

Parenting a toddler can be extremely challenging and utterly exhausting. While your toddler is naturally enthusiastic and energetic, she may sometimes behave like a little savage, making you feel as though you've been given the mighty task of civilising her!

Try our tips for toddler taming:

Child-proof the house.

Between their newly found independence, and their newly acquired skill of walking, toddlers can be hard to manage indoors. Save yourself the headache of saying 'no' all the time and lock up (or put out of reach) your valuables. Gate any area that is either dangerous (bathroom or stairs) or precious (the dining room full of glassware) but make sure too that you haven't boxed her into such a tiny space that she'll get restless.

Divert and distract.

It may seem sometimes that your toddler is contrary by nature, but really she just wants what she wants and she wants it NOW! When reasoning and explaining doesn't work - 'No, you can't go outside because it's dark, raining and bedtime' - try diverting her attention with an activity she can enjoy with you. Try 'racing' with her to her bedroom - there's nothing a toddler likes more than being chased!

Tantrums.

Always remember that these are a normal part of your toddler's growth, so take heart if she seems to be chucking a wobbly every single day - they won't go on forever. Take note of what sets her off a (tiredness/the supermarket/over-stimulation) and perhaps try avoid those triggers for a while.